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Tech Crampon on Hoji — Fits Like the Hendrix Headband

by Lou Dawson May 20, 2019
written by Lou Dawson May 20, 2019
Tech Crampons have retailed for a while now.

Tech Crampons have retailed for a while now. They work on the Dynafit Hoji. We still have the original version — not sure why we never got upgraded. I like the garage-made look of ours, but know the latest ver has that ‘factory finish’ look. They’re for sale at Pro Ski. Our full Tech Crampon Techpon review is here.

These Tech Crampons were adjusted to a conventional DIN toe boot, and fit the Hoji without reconfiguration.

These Tech Crampons (aka Techpons) were adjusted to a conventional DIN toe boot, and fit the Hoji without reconfiguration.

Dynafit Hoji with Techpon Tech Crampon. on the toe.

Dynafit Hoji with Techpon Tech Crampon.

Now, the burning question: Why didn’t Dynafit make a full length crampon that fits the Hoji boot toe the same way as the Tech Crampon? They could of done it. We could probably mod the Tech Crampon in three hours to be full length. Our guess at the answer: Tech Crampon is patented, someone did not want to license the patent to Dynafit, or perhaps someone at Dynafit figured they had a better idea in the Cramp-In. I’d vehemently argue against that. The Tech Crampon fits the Hoji like Jimi Hendrix wore his headband. Google it up. Dynafit should have used the concept.

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20 comments

Sedgesprite May 20, 2019 - 9:22 am

Tiny in the pack. I have no problem packing them as a ‘just in case’ on spring tours. The first gen were rather ‘Frankenstein’ Somehow I broke a tooth, but Pro-Ski replaced the set quickly and I haven’t had a problem. TLT 6.

Lou Dawson 2 May 20, 2019 - 9:43 am

What they need to make is a titanium version. That would be incredible. Lou

AndyCarey May 20, 2019 - 10:17 am

They work on my TLT6, F1s, and my wife’s Arc’teryx Procline ARs. Handy.

Scott S Allen May 20, 2019 - 11:00 am

Recently, I am finding the Hoji Pro Tour very difficult to fit tightly with light, Al crampons for summer.

Tried Petzl, Camp, and Kreuesptize.

Due to its bull nose toe, most strap on models leave too much wiggle room for my taste. I am not interested in cutting away the sole for the Cramp In.

I would prefer a full length, but may have to reconsider these Tech Crampons.
Thanks for the timely post.

Other Aaron May 20, 2019 - 11:16 am

@Scott

I bet you could rig up something like a petzl Irvis heel piece to the Techpon toe. Just tie off the dyneema chords to the holes in the techpon toe. Adjustment might be a little fiddly in the beginning though

Other Aaron May 20, 2019 - 11:33 am

I did mean the Irvis hybrid or the Leopard

Louis Dawson May 20, 2019 - 2:17 pm

attaching the Petzl heel pieces to the techpon toe would be pretty cool, neat idea! I also wonder if you could jury-rig something similar with another aluminium crampon heel, some dynema cord, and the techpon toe. Might have to try that.

kevin hjertaas May 20, 2019 - 2:19 pm

I’ve been using this exact set up for 1.5 seasons and it works really well. If the tech crampons are enough for you, they are great. The also work well on the new Hoji Free of course.

Frank V. Pearsall May 20, 2019 - 11:09 pm

Cheers Lou, definitely going to get some of these 🙂

Thanks,
Frank V.

furreti May 21, 2019 - 3:51 am

Is the slot in the tightening bolt/screw up front wide enough for a ice axe (front tip or sharp adze)? One can assume that an axe will be at hand on tours were crampons or Techpons might be used? I hope that you’re only happy to see me, and that you’re not carrying an extra flathead screwdriver in your pocket?

Lou Dawson 2 May 21, 2019 - 6:37 am

Hi Furreti, the safety clip on the leash fits the screw slot perfectly, a sharp ice axe tip would fit it as well, it’s pretty wide. The backside of a knife blade would work also, it doesn’t require a lot of torque. Lou

Aaron May 21, 2019 - 11:39 am

I find a significant portion of the time I am cramponing on harder snow while ski touring I am using some flat foot technique. Do folks find these limit the range of techniques? Or as a backup just in case good enough? Or are people only kick stepping/front pointing?

Michael May 21, 2019 - 3:43 pm

In response to Aaron, I tried the tech crampons. Cool idea and there was nothing wrong with the product, but they didn’t work for me.

I do a lot of French technique when climbing snow slopes, saves my calves. I typically only do sustained front pointing if it’s soft enough to get a decent step or no other option (steep and firm).

I didn’t like how they French-stepped so I sold them. Petzl Leopard isn’t much heavier or bulkier and works better for me. Leopards have gotten me up anything I can ski down.

YMMV of course.

Miro May 23, 2019 - 1:36 pm

It is nonsense. Crampons must be at least 10-pick. Otherwise they might cause serious problems even lethal especially on descent.
It is unusable boot for ski-mountaineering if you cant attach regular climbing crampons.
Is it normal to have specific boots for climbing (and skiing on descent), then other for touring, then some other for I dont know what?
Sick dynafit…

Louis Dawson III May 23, 2019 - 3:41 pm

I talked about this a bit in my original review. I still have normal crampons, and use them occasionally, but I also often use the techpons. The main instance where I don’t use them is when I’m planning on using crampons for a significant vertical e.g. on a Rainier climb, where you’ll likely spend more than 5,000 feet cramponing. Most of the time, however, the cramponing part of the day is reasonably short (a few thousand feet at most), so they work great.

I’m not sure I would have the techpons as my only crampon, but I’d imagine that many people buying “shark nose” boots have a pair of strap on crampons too that they could use on the few occasions where a techpon won’t work.

See May 24, 2019 - 9:18 am

I wonder if the crampons cause wear or other damage to the tech sockets that could impair proper binding function. Seems like kicking into hard snow would put a lot more stress on the fittings than normal skiing/skinning.

Kristian May 24, 2019 - 10:04 am

Snow crampons typically have relatively short spikes. These are highly specialized long front spikes meaning that any unexpected event forcing you to rapidly traverse, run, down climb, etc. puts you potentially at great risk.

For only a few grams more, you can have a complete crampon with predictable footing for all situations.

And the compaction and balling up of huge heavy wet snow clumps underfoot is incredibly annoying and requires tons of effort constantly clearing that snow with almost every step. So again it seems more than worth carrying a few more grams still to have anti bot plates installed.

Miro May 24, 2019 - 11:03 am

I am talking proper climbing crampons Louis, with wired toe. I have bad experience with plastic toe crampons using with skiboots for ice climbing.
I think this boot is good just for skiing, even kicking into harder snow is less efficient due

brian harder May 26, 2019 - 8:36 pm

I finally got my hands on these at Martin’s shop in North Bend. On paper they’re clever. In the hand I was surprised by the weight. They’re burly and not that light for what they offer. I have to agree with others that the Petzl Irvis is nearly the same weight (or lighter) and offers more versatility for climbing, Frenching and descending. I think a titanium option might make them more attractive for pure couloir hunting in the spring where a sketchy top out would be more relaxed with the increased security front points provide. I think all of us have found ourselves suddenly on firm snow sprinting to the top with nary more than a few millimeters of boot toe penetration. Sketchy, for sure. I generally make it a habit to have spikes on most times I’m booting for just such an occasion. All that said, I love the innovative spirit.

Paul Simon September 19, 2019 - 10:57 pm

When Dynafit started to make boots that don’t play well with crampons I stopped buying their stuff. Very happy now with the Fischer Boots. Kinda sad that the inventor of the tech binding nowadays only makes products for walking up the the groomed slopes.

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